No abstract available.

PURPOSE: Emotional and behavioral disturbances have been reported in severe short stature children. The purpose of this study was to examine psychosocial problems in children with Growth hormone deficiency(GHD), comparing with their normal height siblings. METHODS: Twenty three children with GHD(17 boys and 6 girls, mean age:13.1+/-2.8 yrs) were included. Their normal height siblings(8 boys and 2 girls, mean age:12.3+/-2.9 yrs) were included as control group. Parents of all participating children completed the Child Behavior Checklist. Patients 10 years and older completed the Youth Self Report. RESULTS: 1)Internalizing problem scores(somatic complaints, anxiety, depression, social incompetence) were higher in GHD compared to control group(49.0+/-15.0 vs 43.2+/-6.2, P<0.05). Externalizing problem scores and social competences were not different between GHD and control group. 2) Total problem scores in GHD were not different by sex. 3)Total problem scores were not different between idiopathic GHD and organic GHD. 4)Attention problems(r=0.45, P<0.05), delinquent behavior(r=0.49, P=0.01) and aggressive behavior(r=0.51, P<0.01) increased by age. 5)Height SDS negatively correlated with social problem(r=-0.47, P<0.05) and delinquent behavior(r=-0.61, P<0.01). Height SDS also negatively correlated with somatic complaints(r=-0.75, P<0.01), anxiety and depression(r=-0.66, P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Internalized problems such as somatic complaints, anxiety and depression were higher in GHD than control group. Behavioral problem scores were increased by age and behavioral problem scores were correlated with height deficit. When we treat GHD children, appropriate medical and psychological counseling should be included.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Checklist ; Child Behavior ; Child* ; Counseling ; Depression ; Female ; Growth Hormone* ; Humans ; Parents ; Self Report ; Siblings

PURPOSE: The purposes of this study were to identify the level of care burden for patients with mental illness, attitudes toward mental illness and psychiatric nursing competency in non-psychiatric nurses and to identify correlations among these variables. METHODS: Data were collected from 153 non-psychiatric nurses who worked at a hospital located in Seoul, Korea. Care burden for mental illness patients, attitudes toward mental illness, and psychiatric nursing competency were measured using structured questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test and Pearson's correlation coefficients with the SPSS/WIN 21.0 program. RESULTS: Non-psychiatric nurses' care burden for mental illness patients showed negative correlations with attitude toward mental illness (r=-.50, p<.001) and intervention competency (r=-.31, p<.001). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that effective nursing care for patients with mental illness in non-psychiatric departments requires enhancing nurses' competency in psychiatric nursing and developing positive attitudes toward mental illness.
Humans ; Korea ; Mental Disorders ; Nursing Care ; Psychiatric Nursing* ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The specific aims of the present study were to compare Kirogi children's mental distress and psychosocial factors between short-term (ST) and long-term groups (LT), and to identify predictors of mental distress in the two groups. METHODS: A sample of 107 Kirogi children living in the U.S. participated in this cross-sectional study and completed the following questionnaires: Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children, Somatic Symptom Scale, Self-Esteem Scale, Parent-Child (P-C) Relationship Satisfaction Scale, Parent-Adolescent Communication Inventory Social, Attitudinal, Familial, and Environmental Scale, and Social Support Scale. RESULTS: The LT group reported higher scores on depression and anxiety, and lower scores on self-esteem and P-C relationship than the ST group. Higher scores on somatic symptoms were found in the ST group. Problematic mother-child communication and dissatisfaction with father-child relationship were significant predictors for mental distress. Self-esteem predicted depression and anxiety in the ST group; particularly self-esteem was a significant predictor for anxiety in both groups. Discrimination and process-oriented stress were significant predictors for depression and anxiety in the ST group. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study reveal the needs for school-based mental health programs for the increasing number of Kirogi children vulnerable to mental distress.
Adolescent ; Anxiety ; Anxiety Disorders ; Child* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Father-Child Relations ; Humans ; Mental Health ; Parent-Child Relations ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of antimicrobial prescribing for acute upper respiratory tract infections (URI) among pediatric outpatients and to identify the national patterns of its use from 2009 to 2011 in Korea. Using National Patients Sample database from 2009 to 2011, we estimated the frequency of antibiotics prescribing for URI in pediatric outpatients with diagnoses of acute nasopharyngitis (common cold), acute sinusitis, acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, acute laryngitis/tracheitis, acute obstructive laryngitis/epiglottitis, and acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites. The proportions of each antibiotic class were calculated by year and absolute and relative differences were estimated. Also, we investigated daily amount of prescribed antibiotics per defined population according to the type of medical care institution, physician specialty, and geographic region. The overall antibiotic prescribing proportion was 58.7% and its annual proportion slightly decreased (55.4% in 2011 vs. 60.5% in 2009; adjusted odds ratio, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.83). Variations by the type of medical care institution were observed. Tertiary hospitals (45.0%) were less likely to prescribe antibiotics than primary care clinics (59.4%), hospitals (59.0%), and general hospitals (61.2%); they showed different tendencies in choosing antibiotics. Variations by physician specialty and region were also observed. Prevalence of antimicrobial prescribing for pediatric URI is still considered higher than that of western countries and varies by the type of medical care institution, physician specialty, and geographic region.
Acute Disease ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Databases, Factual ; Drug Prescriptions/*statistics & numerical data ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Physicians/trends ; Practice Patterns, Physicians' ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Tract Infections/*drug therapy

OBJECTIVE: Human embryonic stem (ES) cells have a great potential in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. The human ES cells could be differentiated into specific cell types by treatments of growth factors and alterations of gene expressions. However, the efficacy of guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells are still low. In this study, we characterized isolated cells from differentiated human ES cells by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) system using specific antibodies to cell surface markers. METHODS: The undifferentiated hES cells (Miz-hESC4) were sub-cultured by mechanical isolation of colonies and embryoid bodies were spontaneously differentiated with DMEM containing 10% FBS for 2 weeks. The differentiated cells were isolated to positive and negative cells with MACS system using CD34, human epithelial antigen (HEA) and human fibroblast (HFB) antibodies, respectively. Observation of morphological changes and analysis of marker genes expression were performed during further culture of MACS isolated cells for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Morphology of the CD34 positive cells was firstly round, and then it was changed to small polygonal shape after further culture. The HEA positive cells showed large polygonal, and the HFB positive spindle shape. In RT-PCR analysis of marker genes, the CD34 and HFB positive cells expressed endodermal and mesodermal genes, and HEA positive cells expressed ectodermal genes such as NESTIN and NF68KD. The marker genes expression pattern of CD34 positive cells changed during the extension of culture time. CONCLUSION: Our results showed the possibility of successful isolation of specific cells by MACS system from undirected differentiated human ES cells. Thus, MACS system and marker antibodies for specific cell types might be useful for guided differentiation and isolation of specific cells from human ES cells.
Antibodies ; Ectoderm ; Embryoid Bodies ; Endoderm ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mesoderm ; Nestin ; Regenerative Medicine ; Tissue Engineering

We investigated the occurrence of color vision loss in 70 organic solvent mixtures exposed workers and in 47 controls. Color Vision was assessed with a color arrangement test designed to identify the defective color sense, the Han Double 15-Hue Test. The results of the test were no significant difference between exposed workers and controls in the proportion of subjects who committed one or two errors. Quantitative analysis, using color confusion index(CCI), showed no signifiant difference between exposed workers and controls. A significant linear correlation was present between age and CCI in both exposed workers(CCi=0.0056age + 0.94; r=0.23; p<0.05) and controls(CCI=0.0066age + 0.86; r=0.33; p<0.05). Qualitative analysis of the patterns on the hue circle showed that the prevalence of acquired dyschromatopsia was 21% in both and no significant difference. Multiple regression analyses showed that age was significantly related to color vision loss. These results did not provide evidence of a relationship between organic solvents exposure and incidence of color vision loss. In field studies for monitor the people at risk of the acquired color vision loss involving low-dose organic solvents exposed workers, both quantitative and qualitative information should be considered.
Color Vision ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Solvents

It has been proven that the newborn screening programs for congenital hypothyroidism are very important for its early detection and the early treatment of congenital It has been proven that the newborn screening programs for congenital hypothyroidism are very important for its early detection and the early treatment of congenital hypothyroidism can ameliorate and possibly reverse its consequences. Treatment with L-thyroxine is started in case of suspicious hypothyroidism at the first visit. Serum concentration of total and free thyroxine become normal within 1week after start of therapy but TSH values become normal from 2 months to 6 months after L-thyroxine therapy. The possible explanations for prolonged TSH elevation in congenital hypothyroidism are poor compliance for therapy, an inadequate dose of L-thyroxine, elevated threshold for thyrotropin suppression and two novel mutations in the thyrotropin (TSH) receptor gene in a child with resistance to TSH. Authors have experienced two cases of prolonged TSH elevation with normal T3 and T4 levels till 18months and 27 months of age after optimal L-thyroxine therapy and literature were reviewed.
Child ; Compliance ; Congenital Hypothyroidism* ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Infant, Newborn ; Mass Screening ; Thyrotropin ; Thyroxine

No abstract available.
Choriocarcinoma* ; Female ; Ovary* ; Pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance syndrome shows extreme insulin resistance and is associated with acanthosis nigricans. We can differentiate it into type A insulin resistance that has insulin receptor defect, and type B insulin resistance due to insulin receptor autoantibody. Type B insulin resistance was firstly described by Kahn in 1976. It was often found in adult female and showed autoimmune characteristics. As clinical characteristics, there are hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, extreme insulin resistance and acanthosis nigricans. METHODS: We investigated 17 insulin receptor autoantibody positive cases and 8 cases of normal control who had visited Wonju Christian Hospital from October 1994 to December 1995. Among insulin receptor autoantibody positive subject, male was 4 cases and female 13 cases. Their mean age was 42.2. We compared patients who had insulin receptor antibody positive acanthosis nigricans(IRA) with normal controls. IRA patients were 6 cases(35.3%) of nomal glucose tolerance, 11 cases(64.7%) of abnormal glucose tolerance including overt diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: The 11 cases(64.7%) among IRA patrents were obese and 13 cases(76.5%) had hyperininsulinemia. In IRA patients, mean serum insulin concentration during oral glucose tolerance test was 202.1mU/mL and it was greater than 46.3 of normal controls. Insulin sensitivity in 1.79mg/L * mM * xmU * min normal controls was higher than 0.74mg/L * mM * min of IRA patients. CONCLUSION: IRA patients showed abnormal glucose tolerance including overt diabetes millitus, severe insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and obesity.
Acanthosis Nigricans* ; Adult ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Glucose ; Glucose Tolerance Test ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin* ; Male ; Obesity ; Receptor, Insulin*